8. What is the role of other languages in our school?

It's additive.

Students should have options to explore languages in both breadth and depth, to become familiar with features of a variety of languages, while developing true proficiency in the language of instruction, Chinese, and if additional, their own mother tongue.

All languages are as important as each other and must be celebrated and valued. We accept and understand the critical importance of mother tongue on second language learning, and in most cases this is ESL at IST, and we therefore promote it. Where possible and reasonable we will seek to provide for the provision of other languages in our formal curriculum.

Effective communication between groups; mother tongue developed; encourages cultural understanding; provides for individual needs.

Nurtures the appreciation of the richness of language.